Integrated rail efficiency and safety support system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to the use of mobile sensors to collect temperature information used to control, inter alia, rail vehicle speed, acceleration, or scheduling.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefits of U.S. ProvisionalApplications Ser. Nos. 61/018,796, filed Jan. 3, 2008, 61/030,822, filedFeb. 22, 2008, and 61/140,539, filed Dec. 23, 2008, each of which isincorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to vehicular datacollection/transmission systems and particularly to rail vehicle datacollection/transmission systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Weather related problems, such as rail buckling and derailments, pose asignificant problem. In addition to the direct loss of equipment andpossible personal injury, there are significant consequential costs tocommerce and society in terms of lost use of that line, the need toreroute traffic, delays, etc. The reduction of average speeds even of aslittle as 1 mph, has been estimated to involve millions of dollars insocietal costs.

Extreme temperatures (high or low) and adverse weather (e.g., floodingor extreme cold or snow or ice) can force train services to slow down,or, in some cases, stop and/or reroute. Most methods of monitoring railtemperatures to date have involved equipment affixed to rails inlimited, specific, static locations. Such fixed sites typically involvesignificant spatial gaps, are relatively expensive to deploy, requiresignificant site preparation and infrastructure, and are difficult toinstall and/or maintain, especially in remote stretches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to vehicular datacollection/transmission systems and particularly to rail vehicle datacollection/transmission systems.

In a first embodiment, a rail vehicle includes a sensor to measure atemperature of a rail in proximity to the rail vehicle. The rail vehiclenormally travels on the rail. An example of a sensor is an infraredsensor, though other types of temperature sensors may be employed.

In a second embodiment, a central control system, such as a centralcontrol system for a rail network, includes a server to receive, from anumber of consists located at different parts of a rail network, railtemperature measurements and use the rail temperature measurements todetermine one or more of speed restrictions, consist routes, current oftraffic, traffic mode, consist schedules, timetables, number of trainsper hour, consist length restrictions, and consist weight restrictions.

In a third embodiment, a method includes the steps of:

(a) determining, based on sensed data received from a mobile sensor, arail temperature at a selected physical location; and

(b) generating, by a processor, a command to adjust one or more of avelocity, acceleration, and route of a train based on the railtemperature.

In a fourth embodiment, a method includes the steps of:

(a) receiving, from a number of different consists and by a server, anumber of datasets, each dataset including a rail temperature, atimestamp, and a physical location; and

(b) based on the datasets, determining, by the server, one or more of aspeed restriction, consist route, current of traffic, traffic mode,consist schedule, timetable, number of trains per hour, consist lengthrestriction, consist type restriction, and consist weight restriction.

The invention can allow temperatures and other track and traininformation to be collected on a mobile basis along entire rail lines.In one configuration, data from a given train, or consist, is combinedwith that of other trains, or consists and with current and forecastedweather and other information to better monitor and predict potentialproblematic stretches of line, provide alerts and recommendations tohelp improve routing/rerouting, maximize efficiency, and facilitatesafety and commerce.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of theinvention(s) contained herein. For example, the invention can realizesignificant mile/hour improvements in train speed. While not wishing tobe bound, it is believed that the invention can improve train speedsanywhere from 0.25 to 1 mile/hour in overall routing during the year,particularly during summer months. It has been estimated that eachmile/hour improvement in train speed translates into a savings of $50 to$100 million/year. The invention can generate, in real-time, mapsshowing train locations, speeds, and statuses and rail conditions andprofiles. This can further improve existing computer-aided dispatchsystems providing network-wide visibility and thereby permit railroadoperators to manage traffic proactively, thereby maximizing capacity andincreasing productivity. The invention can provide rail temperaturesand/or weather conditions to dispatchers in a separate display and/orinput projected delays and problem areas into automated dispatchingsystems to permit the system's schedules to be adjusted and/or refined.

As used herein, “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “oneor more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B andC together.

It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or moreof that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “atleast one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be notedthat the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be usedinterchangeably.

The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers toany process or operation done without material human input when theprocess or operation is performed. However, a process or operation canbe automatic even if performance of the process or operation uses humaninput, whether material or immaterial, received before performance ofthe process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if suchinput influences how the process or operation will be performed. Humaninput that consents to the performance of the process or operation isnot deemed to be “material”.

The term “block” refers to a section of track of defined limits fortrain movement, the use of which is governed by, for example, rulesand/or block signals. Not all sections of track on a main line areconsidered to be part of a block.

The term “block signal” refers to a signal at an entrance of a block togovern trains entering and using that block.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to anytangible storage and/or transmission medium that participate inproviding instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium maytake many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media,volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, forexample, NVRAM, or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includesdynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readablemedia include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, aCD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, a solid state medium like a memory card, any other memorychip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read. A digital file attachment toe-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, itis to be understood that the database may be any type of database, suchas relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like.Accordingly, the invention is considered to include a tangible storagemedium or distribution medium and prior art-recognized equivalents andsuccessor media, in which the software implementations of the presentinvention are stored.

A “consist” is a train including one or more cars or rail vehicles. Aconsist and train are synonymous terms.

The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variationsthereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any typeof methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

The term “home signal” refers to a signal at an entrance of a route orblock to govern trains entering and using that route or block.

The term “main line” means trackage in a rail network that is outside ofa maintenance yard. For example, main line refers to a principal line orlines of a rail network or railway.

The term “module” as used herein refers to any known or later developedhardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, orcombination of hardware and software that is capable of performing thefunctionality associated with that element. Also, while the invention isdescribed in terms of exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciatedthat individual aspects of the invention can be separately claimed.

A “speed restriction” refers to a voluntary or mandatory maximum orminimum speed along a section of track or block. An example of a speedrestriction is a restricted speed.

“Train” is a series of connected railroad freight or passenger cars orvehicles pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives or propelled by anon-board motor, such as a light rail vehicle.

“Train state” refers to a condition, function, location, or operation ofa train or a component or accessory thereof.

The preceding is a simplified summary of the invention to provide anunderstanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is neitheran extensive nor exhaustive overview of the invention and its variousembodiments. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elementsof the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention but topresent selected concepts of the invention in a simplified form as anintroduction to the more detailed description presented below. As willbe appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possibleutilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features setforth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a functional block diagram of a train, such as a consist,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a plan diagram of a train according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1C is a functional block diagram of an on board unit according toan embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a network architecture according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a data collection operation accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting an operation of the data processingmodule according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting an operation of the data analysismodule according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting an operation of the dispatching moduleaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following exemplary embodiments will generally be discussed inrelation to a railway embodiment, and in particular to rail monitoringsensors and equipment. However, in general, the system, methodologiesand techniques described herein can be applied to other industries,environments, types of vehicles and sensors. As such, there may be acorresponding change in one or more of the type(s) of data depending onthe operational environment and a corresponding change in the type(s)and format of information displayed on the various devices.

In one embodiment, a system for rail temperature prediction modeling andwarning, as well as the more general collection of rail and other trainand track-related information is provided. The collected information canbe monitored dynamically onboard, transferred to central computers, andcombined the same with weather information and forecasts. The processedinformation can be inputted into rail temperature prediction modelingand algorithms, which can generate alerts, recommendations, and commandsfor central dispatchers, engineers and others.

The System Components

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the information collection anddissemination architecture according to an embodiment includes rail-sideunits 228, weather pucks or pods 230, stationary equipment 231 (such asa rail-side de-icing sprayer, rail-side sign, rail-side frictionenhancer (such as a device that applies sand to the selected section oftrack), and a train 100. Each train 100 includes a plurality of(motorized or unmotorized) rail vehicles 104 a-n, one or more of whichis equipped with an OnBoard data collection Unit(s) (OBU(s)) 108 a-z,one or more sensor(s) 112 a-x, and a spatial location module 116. TheOBUs communicate with one another and with remote servers viatransceivers 150 and associated antennas 154. The railway vehicles 104a-n can be engines, passenger cars, freight cars, and other types ofmotorized and unmotorized rail vehicles. Although the train 100 is shownas a multi-car consist, it is to be understood that the train can be asingle-car consist and can be supported by one or multiple rails 120.For example, the train 100 can be a manually and/or automaticallyoperated passenger train (e.g., a commuter, inter-city, high-speed, orlong-distance passenger train) and/or a freight train.

Referring to FIG. 1C, each of the OBUs 108 a-z commonly aresoftware-controlled devices having processing capabilities and theability to transmit data on a wired or wireless basis to other points onthe train (if more than one OBU 108 is onboard) and/or to a dislocatedcentral server. More than one OBU 108 can be used per train 100 and morethan one OBU 108 on a given train 100 can transmit collectedinformation, or sensed data, to the central server. Each OBU 108 can becapable of monitoring and reporting applicable temperatures,periodically transmitting existing temperatures, transmitting specialalerts when parameters are exceeded, receiving commands,recommendations, and other information (such as weather forecastinformation (e.g., Doppler radar and/or satellite images of weatherconditions in the vicinity of the OBU) and expected rail conditions andprofiles) from the central servers for presentation, via a userinterface (e.g., a voice, graphical, audio, or other type of interface)to train operators. The OBUs may be incorporated into, or interfacewith, the communication control unit (which controls communicationsbetween cars in a consist) and/or electronic control unit (whichcontrols all electronic functions and operations of the train). As willbe appreciated, each car in a consist has its own electronic controlunit, which communicates with other electronic control units in theconsist.

Each OBU 108 includes a number of internal logic modules for performingvarious operations. The modules are normally implemented in processorexecutable software but may additionally or alternatively be implementedas logic circuits.

The logic modules include one or more connection managers 158 toconfigure the OBU as required by the particular communications networkprovider and interact with the service provider to establish acommunication session with the remote server, and one or more connectionmonitors 160 to monitor the health and/or state of the connection. Whenthe health is unacceptable (e.g., the connection has too muchinterference or the Quality of Service is unacceptable) or the link usedby the connection is down, the monitor 160 causes the manager 158 toreestablish the communication session by setting up another connection.Typically, a set formed by one connection manager and monitorcorresponds to each wireless network service provider.

A system clock 162 is synchronized to a universal time clock andprovides internal timing information to control OBU operations andtimestamp collected data.

A data collection and processing module 164 receives sensed data andother information from the on board sensors 112, location module 116,weather pods 230 and stations, and third party sources, processes thesensed data and other information to form processed information derivedfrom the collected data, and stores the raw and processed information ina data repository 166. The raw and processed information is thentransmitted, over an established network connection, to and stored on aremote central server. The data repository 166 is used during normalprocessing operations and as a buffer for data collected when thenetwork connection is either unhealthy or down.

A routing module 170 identifies the types of digital incoming signals(e.g., by sensor type), based on the type of incoming signal, translatesthe digital signals received from the sensors to a selected language orformat, and directs the communications to the data collection andprocessing module; directs incoming communications from other OBUs orthird parties (such as the central server) to the data collection andprocessing module 164 or system manager 168, as appropriate; handlesoutgoing communications such as by packetizing the collected data (witha data-type identifier included in the payload) and applying headers topackets for uploading onto the network; and otherwise handles mail andmessaging functions.

A user interface 172 provides information to and receives input from theengineers.

A system manager 168 oversees and controls overall operations of the OBU108, responds to alarms, interrupts, and other alerts received from thedata collection and processing module 164, generates internal commandsto control OBU operations, responds to external commands received fromremote servers, and performs remote system maintenance andtroubleshooting functions, and other functions.

The OBU further includes drivers and programming for the user interface172.

In one configuration, the data collection and processing module 164processes multimedia information. For example, the module 164 uses thefollowing parameters to process video information: a URI address of theremote server, an imaging device name, a time interval betweensnapshots, a Boolean value for whether images should have a currentdate/time stamp, a Boolean value for whether attachments should be sentas DIME or MIME attachments, a temporary file storage location, and anidentifier of the OBU sending the video information.

Each OBU and/or train has a unique identifier. The identifier of the OBUis used, by the data collection and processing module, to associate thereceived information with a corresponding rail vehicle and respectivelocal host OBU. The data collection and processing module in the localmaster OBU receives the received information from each OBU on the train.The identifier of the train or master OBU identifier is used by theremote data processing network to associate received information with aset or collection of OBUs.

The train 100 includes one or more location sensor(s) 116. The locationsensor(s) 116 can determine location by any type of mechanism, such asby a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or other satellitenavigation system (that provides autonomous geo-spatial positioning withglobal coverage), Radio Frequency Identification Detection (RFID) (withan RFID reader and tag being used to determine device location), andInternet connectivity via a connection, such as a wi-fi hot spot,controlled by a resource provider. As will be appreciated, GNSS allowssmall electronic receivers to determine their location (longitude,latitude, and altitude) to within a few meters using time signalstransmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites. ExemplaryGNSS include the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS), the RussianGLONASS, the European Union's Galileo positioning system, the Chineseregional Beidou navigation system, and India's IRNSS. Typically, thelocation module forwards digital location signals (e.g., GPRMC NMEAsentences) to the respective OBU 108. The timing of the signals istypically controlled by the location module 116. A preferred locationmodule 116 integrates the antenna and a GPS module into a puckpositioned on the exterior of the train. The location module 116 can beplugged into various available ports on the OBU, including speciallycreated ports such as a special five-pin DIN connection. The locationmodule can also be separated from the antenna and collocated inside ofthe OBU.

One or more of the OBUs could be configured with a user interface 172and/or be interfaced directly with other onboard system(s) and datacollection device(s). Such OBUs could provide audible or visual alertsand provide other information. The user interface can include a varietyof devices, such as a keyboard and/or monitor. The monitor is preferablya touchscreen. The monitor can provide the engineer with various optionsto control operations or configurations of the train (e.g., number ofengines in consist and the like), provide commands and recommendationsfrom central control (e.g., recommended speed and/or acceleration for asection of track, provide data input regarding the train state (e.g.,stopped for loading, stopped for unloading, stopped due to malfunction,and in motion or transit) or environmental conditions, transmit textmessages to the remote server, receive text messages from the remoteserver, and provide the engineer with views of the data transmittedand/or received. While the OBU is discussed with reference to displayingcommands to engineers, it is to be understood that specified operationalaspects for many trains will be controlled remotely rather than locally.

Sensors 112 a-n can be any suitable sensor for collecting desired data.For example, the sensors can be infrared sensors currently available onthe market or other specially created sensors. Examples of other sensorsinclude humidity sensors (e.g., hygrometers), barometers, anemometers,light sensors (e.g., photodetectors and pyranometers), thermometersconfigured to measure ambient temperature, video imaging devices; windvanes, and rain gauges. The rail sensors 112 are commonly attached tothe underbody of the train 100 to monitor rail 120 and ambienttemperatures, as the train moves along the rail lines. The sensors canalso collect other train-related information, such as, for example,engine temperature, oil and/or fuel pressure, revolutions per minute ofa motor, engine, or rotating member, train speed, train mileage (e.g.,by an odometer), train direction of travel (e.g., by a compass), andtrain acceleration. Other wired or wireless sensors can be stationaryand positioned near the track, such as in pods or rail-side units. Inone configuration, the sensors include a still and/or motion videoimaging device to provide still or full motion images to the remoteserver. In one configuration, the sensors include a microphone toprovide audio to the remote server. Analog-to-digital conversion isemployed, as needed, to convert analog signals from sensors to digitalformat. The sensors can also collect/transmit touch and sensor inputs,including camera images and security information (including, withoutlimitation, facial recognition hits and time, location and details withor without images).

Other data could also be collected from engineers by means of manualinputs using the user interface.

Sensed or inputted data would be location-, date- and time-stamped ascollected onboard and as later received at the central servers.

One or more such sensors per train can be used with one or more OBUs.

Examples of sensed and manually inputted data include ambienttemperature, rail 120 temperature, selected video images, ambienthumidity, ambient pressure, visibility, rail bed temperatures, currenttrain velocity and/or acceleration, cloud conditions, wind bearing andvelocity, train bearing, train physical location, operational state orstatus of the train, engine parameters (e.g., oil pressure, enginetemperature, fuel levels, and the like), number of cars in the consist,weights of the cars, and the like.

Sensors and OBUs installed at the front of the train can provide earlywarnings as to current conditions and, in the case of hot tracks, employappropriate algorithms to provide localized and/or system-wide alertswhen the length and weight of the train are expected to raise railtemperatures to dangerous or otherwise undesirable levels. OBUs fartherback on the train 100 can monitor actual temperature rises, and providedata to help refine and enhance the algorithms.

For example, sensors can be positioned at the front and rear of thetrain to measure rail temperature. The sensor at the front of the trainwould provide ambient rail temperature while that at the rear of thetrain would provide the elevated temperature after passage of the train.The difference of the two temperatures provides the delta temperaturecaused by passage of the train. The delta temperature can be used toevaluate the thermal effect of the train's passage on the railtemperature of a selected block, route, or other defined section ofrail. The delta temperature can be significant for long freight haulagetrains.

In addition to train-specific data, train vehicles so equipped may alsobe used for detailed rail profiling, manually and/or through cameras andother equipment, while the train passes over sections of track. This mayinclude collecting data regarding shaded and windblown rail segmentsduring various times throughout the year, positions of nearby buildingsalong the section of track, positions of bridges, viaducts, tunnels,portals, and other features that can impact rail temperature; markingsections of track so that very specific information can be recorded andrelayed; and noting maintenance activities such as rail, tie, and railbed repairs, debris clearance, weed spraying, or other maintenanceactions needing to be performed. Times, locations, and other conditionsand information can be recorded with such events to preserve andgenerate appropriate reports and records, as well as for separateprocessing and analysis, accounting, materials inventory, purchasing,etc.

Referring to FIG. 1B, an exemplary display 180 of the user interface 172is shown. The display 180 can be mounted in the cab of a rail vehicleand can include associated speakers as well as communicationcapabilities such that cameras, microphones, and other devices can beassociated with the OBU. The display 180 includes one or more displayportions 182, 184, 186, and 188 and one or more buttons 190. Theexemplary display portions include a map 182 (displaying rail lines,blocks, or sections of tracks, rail grades, and/or rail profiles, andsurrounding features in a selected area), radar 184 (displaying current(Doppler) radar, weather statistical information, and other weatherinformation, such as by a feed (e.g., streaming media) from a selectedweather service), rail information 186 (displaying, such as in acolor-coded map, sections of rail and current rail temperatures and/orprofiles) and train information 188 (displaying, such as in acolor-coded map, the trains in a selected area and their statuses,operations, and directions of travel, audio and/or video feeds from aselected train, and the like).

In one configuration, the train information 188 can depict the locationsof the subject train as well as the other trains in a selected arearelative to the subject train, using an icon denoting each train. Theicon color can be varied to indicate differing rail vehicle states. Textand/or visual (camera) information can be depicted on the map adjacentto or associated with each icon. The text information can describeselected state information associated with the train, such as a trainidentifier, direction of train travel, train speed, status of thetrain's location signal, train status and activity, and timestamp of thelast data update for the identified train. The map can also depict, forone or more selected rail vehicles, a trace route over a selected periodof time. A trace route indicates the path of travel of the train overthe selected time period. The map can also display reported condition(s)and status of the train. Additionally, the display can show theoperation recommendations or commands for the specific train, which theengineer may accept and, in some configurations, modify. Suchmodifications and actual applications implemented throughout a routewould then be transmitted back to the central server 212 and saved aspart of the history of actions taken in the relevant area or region orsection of track.

This display 180 allows for relatively unrestrained, dynamicallygenerated, train and location-specific information to be accessible tothe train or, in general, to any location. This is in contrast to therelatively limited capabilities previously available through textmessaging or oral communications via phone or radio.

A dynamically generated webpage at a respective Universal ResourceIndicator or Locator (URI or URL) has the versatility to display one ormore of images and multimedia (and audio through an associated speaker)and provide information that is as current as possible, depending ofcourse on the availability of network connections in the area.

The display of information can include without limitation a seamlessintegration of various types of information, such as weather radarloops, weather forecasts as well as current conditions, projected,historic, and current rail conditions (as determined by other trains),rail grades, rail profiles, and camera images. It also allows the railvehicle to directly communicate with one or more of central dispatch orcontrol and other engineer(s) through messaging as well as communicatewith other trains through the remote server. More than one server may bejoined to enhance processing power and capabilities, as well as tointegrate data from multiple states and other entities.

One or more of the OBUs would be designated the “master” OBU andtherefore be responsible and configured to send data back to centralservers for more in depth processing with data from other sources. Inone configuration, the OBUs collect sensed data along the rail lines asthe host train moves along the lines and periodically or continuouslytransmits the sensed data to the central server and, if out of range ofthe central server, buffers the sensed data for later transmission whenthe master OBU is again within central server range. Informationcollected from third party sources may include weather data, for examplefrom the National Weather Service, forecasts, and local and regionalradars and related information such as front location, snow depth, windconditions, as well as current rail conditions. Information collectedfrom weather stations and weather pods can include current surface andambient temperatures, humidity, wind speed and direction, wind chill,rain, drizzle, freezing rain, snow, frost, clear, and fog, and ingeneral any weather condition, trend, forecast or information. Othertypes of information that can be gathered or otherwise calculated fromgathered data include historic, projected and/or current rail conditionsor profiles, physical location, recommended and/or maximum train speedand/or acceleration, video images of a selected train's exteriorenvironment or the train's interior or exterior, and audio of theselected train's interior. Such information can be displayed and updatedmanually or on an automated basis.

Information from other sources may be collected through server-to-serverlinks. All information can then be stored and processed on the remoteserver or a combination of the servers working together. The stored andprocessed information can be accessed locally and directly by centraldispatch or control room (such as for automatic train control) andinternal personnel, by dispatch assistants or related offices or throughmobile devices such as cell phones and PDAs, or remotely by railvehicles and other in-vehicle systems through, for example, a wirelessconnection.

A Distributed Processing Network Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 2, a distributed processing network architectureaccording to an embodiment is presented. The architecture includes anenterprise network 200, weather forecast service 204, a plurality oftrains 100 a-w, a plurality of weather pucks (or pods) 230 a-p, and aplurality of rail side units 228 a-q in communication with one anothervia Wide Area Network (WAN) 208. Each of the trains will, in turn,include location modules, sensors, and OBUs. For example, the train 100w includes first, second, third, . . . nth OBUs 108 a-z.

The enterprise network 200 includes a central server 212 incommunication via Local Area Network (LAN) 216 with one or moredatabase(s) 220 and other computational devices 224.

The central server 212 can be any suitable communications server andreceives sensed data from and provides information to the first, second,third, . . . zth OBUs 108 a-z. In one configuration, the WAN 208 is awireless network, and the server 212 is capable of wirelesslycommunicating with the various OBUs 108.

The database 220 can include a variety of information. The database 220,in one configuration, includes a plurality of identifiers and, for eachidentifier, current and historic data sensed by an entity correspondingwith the identifier. The identifier can be associated with a train, arail vehicle, and/or a specific OBU 108. When the identifier isassociated with a train or an OBU on a train, the stored data canfurther include the train parameters, such as train velocity,acceleration, and travel direction and location, for each train engine,engine revolutions-per-minute, engine temperature and oil pressure, fuellevel, battery amperage, battery voltage, mileage per gallon, and otheronboard warning systems and sensor readings, the number and types ofrail vehicles in the train or consist, the length and type of the train,the cumulative weight of the train or individual rail vehicles, the typeof freight carried by the train, whether the train is loaded orunloaded, the number of passengers being carried by the train, videoimages of the train's exterior environment or the train's interior orexterior, audio of the train's interior, engineer identifications,instructions, directions, and other information that can be displayed,sensed, and/or input manually or on an automated basis. Whether the OBUis rail-side or mounted on a train, the database includes, for the trainor OBU identifier, currently sensed weather conditions (such astemperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, wind chill, raining,snowing, blowing snow, foggy, clear, overcast, cloudy, and barometricpressure), rail conditions (e.g., rail temperature, icy, snow-packed,snow depth, frosty, wet, dry, rail coefficient of friction, rail inflooded location or flood plain, black rail conditions, etc.), train orOBU spatial location (e.g., Global Positioning System or GPS-basedlocation), sensed airborne chemicals or particulates and radiationlevels, thermal and/or infrared imaging, and other information that canbe displayed, sensed, and/or input manually or on an automated basis.The database can further include current and historic weather forecastinformation for specific days and times and a description of the raillines providing, for example, topological information, rail line mappingcoordinates, rail bed type and composition (e.g., rail road tie type andunderlying bed (e.g., ballast) type and composition), informationregarding nearby features (e.g., road crossings, bodies of water,buildings, foliage, and the type), and the like, and train schedules andtraffic information along various rail routes (as the amount of trafficcan impact significantly the temperatures on a given line).

The other computational devices 224 can include personal computers,laptops, and the like. In one configuration, the computational devicesare workstations for human operators or monitors.

The weather forecast service 204 can be one or more services providingweather forecasting information. An example is the National WeatherService and general or regional weather forecasting services. Asdiscussed below, the weather information is used to better predict shortterm and even longer predictions for anticipated rail temperatures andto thus help identify problematic stretches, best routing alternatives,calculate updated schedules, etc. Alternatively, the weather forecastservice refers to weather stations.

The rail side units 228 are stationary units positioned adjacent to therail lines at strategic locations. The rail side units are similar, ifnot identical, to the OBUs 108. They are frequently positioned alongless frequently traveled sections of tracks and/or at frequent problemareas of the tracks.

The weather pucks 130 a-p are available for use in areas where there areno full weather stations and installing one would be impractical andcost-prohibitive. The application involves a fixed, instead of a mobile,application of similar technology and processes to provide aninexpensive alternative for regions that currently do not have fullweather stations, making accurate data collection possible in areas thathave historically been void of such data collection. These devicesgenerally contain an infrared sensor capable of measuring ambient andsurface temperatures, and a modem that allows the device to transmit thecollected data back to the information management system 100. It ispossible to add additional sensors, cameras, and/or other relatedequipment to the weather pods in order to enhance the accuracy. The datais sent back to the central server 212 where it is displayed or directlyused, or where it is applied to algorithms or modeling software withother known or separately collected weather characteristics to enhanceinterpretation and generate warnings, monitoring alerts, e.g., to one ormore of a rail vehicle, rail-side sign, central dispatch, etc, andinformation enhanced maps on the display 180.

Temperatures could be recorded in the field with a corresponding timestamp. The time stamp of the in-field system, as with the in railvehicle system, can be automatically synchronized to UTC. Theinformation could then be transmitted to the central server 212. If thesystem were unable to establish a network connection, the data could bestored in the OBU and transceiver 150 and transmitted once a connectioncould be established.

One exemplary purpose of the weather pods is to collect basicinformation (e.g. ambient and surface temperatures) and transmit thedata to the central server 212 to be processed with other known orcollected information to provide a more enhanced and accurate depictionof the different weather conditions at various locations which willultimately aid to better predict weather conditions and increase abilityto effectively monitor rail condition and profile and control railtraffic speeds over sections of track.

The WAN 208 can be any wired and/or wireless network employing suitablecommunication protocols. The data collected from various sources and thecorresponding reports and recommendations and commands sent back to thetrains can be transmitted to the OBU in the cab through a variety ofpublic and private wireless networks as well as land-lines and/or wirednetworks or via satellite or via the rails themselves (such as in theautomatic train protection system). Commonly, the WAN 208 is a wirelessnetwork. The wireless network 708 can be any type of wireless serviceand/or air interface, such as Advanced Mobile Telephone Service or AMPS,Digital Advanced Mobile Telephone Service or D-AMPS, DigitalCommunication Service or DCS1800, Global System for MobileCommunications/General Packet Radio Service or GSM/GPSR, North AmericanDigital Cellular, Personal Communications Services, Personal DigitalCellular, Total Access Communication System, High Speed Downlink PacketAccess or HSDPA, Enhanced Data GSM Environment or EDGE, 1xRTT CDMA,CDMA2000, Evolution Data Optimized or EVDO, Digital Enhanced Network oriDEN, Specialized Mobile Radio or SMR, 802.11x, WiMAX or 802.16, andother public and private networks, with Frequency Division MultipleAccess or FDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Code DivisionMultiple Access or CDMA, Cellular Digital Packet Data or CDPD, WidebandCDMA or WCDMA/UMTS, or others. The public or private network 708 can beeither landline or wireless. Wireless networks can be operated by one ormore private or public networks, including carriers, such as Sprint™,Nextel™, Verizon™, Cingular™, Alltel™, Western Wireless™, AT&TWireless™, Unicell™, Westlink™ and others, as well as affiliatesthereof. If commercial wireless carriers, such as Sprint™, Nextel™, andVerizon™, are utilized, the information delivery system has the abilityto accommodate and work with different types of IP addresses, includingstatic, dynamic, and spoofed addresses. Dynamic and spoofed IP addressesare typically assigned to mobile devices. However, this system does notrequire carriers separately to provide dedicated lines and/or fixed IPaddresses. Bandwidth and/or transmission speeds, and/or the frequencyand method of data transmissions, may be intentionally limited (bysetting appropriate modem parameters) to qualify for favorable telemetryrates.

In one configuration, information is typically converted into a selectedform, packetized, and transmitted over the wireless network. The form ofthe information can be in accordance with any selected language, such asthe eXtensible Markup Language or XML, the HyperText Markup Language orHTML, Remote Method Invocation or RMI, or Direct Socket Connections. Thepackets can be transported using any suitable protocol, such as theTransport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol suite of protocols, SimpleObject Access Protocol, or User Datagram Protocol.

The OBU and transceiver 150 check for updates from the central server212 and download the same when present. These updates can be downloadedas the engineer requests or on an automated basis. The OBU can be usedfor example to send information to the rail vehicle or to changeprogramming and/or remotely access the rail vehicle, even when otherwiseprotected by dynamic and spoofed IPs. One example of this would involveupdates to menu items and/or applications, which can be posted to acentral server 212. The OBU can then be set to periodically or uponcertain conditions check the central server for updates and if present,download and install the same to itself or other onboard systems and/orrun applications. This can be done despite the inability of a centralcomputer to communicate with the trains.

The OBU is also compatible with 3G and other wireless technologies. 3Gtechnologies are the third-generation technology in the context ofmobile-phone standards and are associated with wide-area wireless voicetelephony and broadband wireless data.

Included in the memory of the central server(s) 212 (“data collectionserver(s)” may also serve as the “central processing system”) are a dataprocessing module 232, data analysis module 236, and dispatching module240.

The data processing module 232 stores sensed data from a given train inthe database 220.

The data analysis module 236 combines, in one configuration, the storedsensed data with one or more of the following: data from other trains,current and forecasted weather information, historical data and trends,and track profiles to create specialized prediction models for railconditions along the applicable lines. The prediction models can be usedto select the current of traffic, traffic mode (e.g., freight mode, railpassenger only mode, etc.), schedules (e.g., the direction, number, andmovement of one or more trains), timetables, number of trains per hour,average, mean, median, lowest or highest train length, average, mean,median, lowest or highest train speed, average, mean, median, lowest orhighest train acceleration, and train routes.

In one configuration, the data analysis module 236 applies predictivemodels to the stored data to determine, for a given month and/or day ofthe year and given weather conditions and selected section of track,predicted temperatures along the selected track segment and/or railtemperature trends. In making these predictions, the model can includethe type and composition of the ties and rail bed along the section oftrack, the likely sun exposure of the tracks in the section of track inview of nearby sun blocking features (e.g., foliage and buildings), thelength and weight of a selected train passing over the section of track,and expected and/or actual traffic from other rail vehicles passing overthe section of track. The data analysis module 236 can even predict railtemperature increases over the length of the train. The predictivemodels, in one configuration, resemble modeling software used forpredicting road conditions based on ambient weather conditions and roadparameters (e.g., type and composition of road surface and bed).

In one configuration, the module 236 applies predictive modelingalgorithms based on accumulated historical data (which will to someextent itself indirectly incorporate rail profile information, e.g., theprofile for how a section of rail reacts will inherently reflect to someextent the rail profile in terms of rail bed type and composition andthe like, even though profile details are not at this level recorded andincorporated). In this configuration, the bed type and composition andpresence of nearby sun-blocking objects are ignored. The module 236bases its rail temperature determinations purely upon historically andcurrently measured rail temperatures.

In one configuration, the module 236 incorporates into the predictivemodeling algorithm of the prior configuration the effects rail profilesand other associated predictive modeling refinements (e.g., rail waycharacteristics, what the rail bed is composed of, whether the rail bedis over water, the height of the rail bed above the surrounding surface,time of day, time of year and angle of sun, weather forecasts fromNational Weather Service or NWS or other sources, historic trends,profiles and other available data, cloud conditions, fog conditions,shading, etc.). This is a more sophisticated algorithm than the priorconfiguration but is more computationally intensive.

In one configuration, the module 236 selects a length, segment, orsection of track, determines, over a selected period of time, an(average, mean, median, lowest, or highest) temperature of the rail,such as in the presence or absence of rail traffic during the timeperiod, compares the actual (average, mean, median, lowest, or highest)rail temperature against the (average, mean, median, lowest, or highest)ambient temperature over the time period to determine a delta value. Theforecasted or actual ambient temperature can be mapped against historic(average, mean, median, lowest, or highest) ambient temperatures toprovide the corresponding delta value, which when added to theforecasted or actual temperature approximates the rail temperature. Thepredictive algorithm may be made more sophisticated by adding a thirdvariable, which is the average, mean, median, lowest or highest railtraffic over the selected time period. When mapping is performed for thetrack section or segment, a table is selected using not only thepredicted or actual temperature but also the predicted or actual railtraffic over the segment.

In one configuration, the module 236 applies modeling algorithms thatinclude the effects of natural events, such as actual or potentialflooding, snow depth, and drifting of snow (which produces varyingdepths of snow over the tracks).

In one configuration, the module 236 uses modeling algorithms to makepredictions of the impact of selected hypothetical train routing ordispatch scenarios on track conditions. For example, the module 236models the effects on rail conditions from moving rail traffic from oneline to another, or, for a given routing scenario, the effects fromusing selected combinations of shorter or longer or loaded or unloadedtrains.

In one configuration, the module 236 compares current with historicimages of objects and, based on the comparison, performs userauthentication or identifies alarm conditions.

In one embodiment, historical and subsequent data is used by the dataanalysis module 236 to refine prediction models. Since data is collectedalong entire lengths of track, collected data is used to help generateautomatically and continually refined profiles. Algorithms for heatbuildup for various train lengths and weights are employed, along withother profile characteristics collected for various stretches of track.Profiles in surface transportation are often manually compiled andsupplemented with accumulated data, but newer techniques involvingoptical and other equipment could also be employed. In the latter case,for example, onboard cameras and pixel analysis could aid in automatedprofiling for shaded areas, reflective surroundings, rail bedcharacteristics, and other area impacts relevant to analysis.

In one configuration, the module 236 compares information or a givensensed parameter to identify temporal trends or differences and, ifnecessary, generates appropriate alarms. The alarms can be loggedinternally and/or forwarded to the respective train via a modem system.The engineer and/or automated components thereof can then takeappropriate remedial action to address the cause of the alarm. It canprepare selected reports on the information. It can log events. Theenterprise network 710 can also provide communications to the modemsystem. The communications can, for example, provide instructions to theengineer, such as train operation and dispatch commands, and/or toautomated components of the train itself to remotely control selectedtrain operations.

The dispatching or central control module 240 generates dispatchinginstructions based on rail conditions provided by the data analysismodule 236 and generates alarms and commands/instructions to specifictrains based on the rail conditions. The module 240, for instance,generates internal and external (OBU) client notifications and reports(e.g., internal alerts for problem areas along the rail line, clientnotifications (automate, email, mobile messages whatever) regardingdelays or revised schedules, reports, commands/instructions regardingspeed and acceleration levels to maintain selected rail conditions(e.g., block signals, cab signals, home signals, moving block traincontrol signals, train protection signals, and the like). Thedispatching module 240 and OBU 108, collectively or individually, canprovide visual and/or audible alerts when selected rail parameters areexceeded and on board access to updates and revised instructions,applicable weather and radar, messages and alerts, and otherinformation. When actual or anticipated temperatures exceed specifiedthresholds (high or low), alerts and recommendations would be issuedfrom the central server or servers to applicable dispatchers, engineers(via OBUs or otherwise) and other interested parties. Any and multipleavailable means of communication could be used, including withoutlimitation, email and text messages, data transfers, visual displays viamaps or otherwise, text to speech messages via cellular, radio or/orother means. In one configuration, the dispatching module 240 receives,from the data analysis module 236, information as to actual orrecommended speed reductions and transfers the information to othersystems or directly processes it to generate revised routing andschedules.

In one configuration, alerts are sent out by the OBU or central server212 via email or text messages to the same devices, as well as via acall out for a voice alert via telephone or cell phone, or fax messages.Any of the devices can also be used to manually send a command to thestationary equipment 231, if desired.

Once the central server 212 determines which train is requestinginformation by either manual or automated updates, a train-specificreport or aggregate of information that will be most relevant for therequesting train as well as a train-specific combination of radar,forecasts and treatment recommendations are generated. Applying varioustechniques and software processes to the collected data produces thisinformation and recommendation. The information and recommendation isthen dynamically placed on a webpage or into another data format fortransmission to the field systems.

In one embodiment, the architecture applies a similar architecture andmodem technology to that described in U.S. patent application entitled“Smart Modem Device for Vehicular Roadside Applications”, Ser. No.11/363,581, filed Feb. 27, 2006, and U.S. patent application entitled“Information Delivery and Maintenance System for Dynamically Generatedand Updated Data Pertaining to Road Maintenance Vehicles and OtherRelated Information”, Ser. No. 12/147,837, filed Jun. 27, 2008, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by this reference. As described in theapplications for tired vehicles, the collected data may be used topopulate, in real time, maps. In the maps, each engine or train would beindicated by an icon, the color of which could be related to a status ofthe corresponding train (e.g., idle, moving, pulling empty cars, pullingloaded cars), freight train versus passenger train, type of freightbeing pulled, whether or not on schedule, and other train-relatedparameters. Each icon can have a drop down description of theseparameters. Additionally, icons can be used to represent track orweather conditions at selected points along the track. The icons can begenerated when the conditions are unacceptable or exceed acceptablethresholds. Lines, routes and/or segements thereof can themselves becolor coded for current temperatures, predicted problems, bottlenecks,and other parameters.

Module Operations

Selected operations of the various modules will now be discussed.

FIG. 3 depicts the data collection operation performed by the OBUs 108.

In step 300, the OBU 108 collects sensed data from one or more sensors112 and/or from one or more other OBU's on the train.

In step 304, the OBU 304 determines, from the location module 116 andwhen the sensed data is obtained directly from a sensor, a physicallocation of the train when the sensed data was measured.

In step 308, the OBU determines, when the sensed data is obtaineddirectly from a sensor, a timestamp when the sensed data was measuredand OBU identifier for the train.

In step 312, the OBU transmits the information to the central server 212over WAN 208 or to a master OBU located elsewhere on the train, such asin the cab.

In decision diamond 316, the OBU determines whether the next reportinginterval has arrived. Decision diamond 316 is repeated until the nextreporting time arrives. When the next reporting time arrives, the OBUreturns to and repeats the foregoing steps 300, 304, 308, and 312.

An operation of the data processing module 232 will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

In step 400, the module 232 receives sensed data from an OBU orrail-side unit 228.

In step 404, the module 232 stores the sensed data in the database 220with reference to an identifier indicating a source of the sensed data.The identifier is used to locate the sensed data relative to acorresponding segment of track. This is done using the locationinformation for train-mounted OBUs 108 or using known locationinformation for rail-side units 228.

In decision diamond 408, the module 232 determines whether it hasreceived further sensed data from another OBU or rail-side unit.Decision diamond 408 is repeated until the next reporting time arrives.When the next reporting time arrives, the module 232 returns to andrepeats the foregoing steps 400 and 404.

An operation of the data analysis module 236 will now be discussed withreference to FIG. 5.

In step 500, the module 236 selects a track segment or section.

In step 504, the module 236 determines (average, mean, median, lowest,or highest) weather conditions in the vicinity of the selected tracksegment over a selected period of time.

In step 508, the module 236 determines the (average, mean, median,lowest, or highest) track temperature for the selected segment over theselected time period.

In step 512, the module 236 determines the actual and/or expected railtraffic over the selected rail segment over the selected time period.

In step 516, the module 236 determines, based on the actual and/orexpected rail traffic over the selected rail segment, an anticipated(average, mean, median, lowest, or highest) rail temperature for theselected track segment over the selected time period.

In step 520, the module 236 compares the track temperature with one ormore thresholds.

In decision diamond 524, the module 236 determines whether the tracktemperature fails to satisfy the thresholds and an alarm conditiontherefore exists.

When an alarm condition exists, the module 236, in step 528, generatesan alarm to the dispatching module 240.

When there is no alarm condition or after step 528, the module 236, instep 532, selects a next track segment for analysis and returns to andrepeats step 500.

An operation of the dispatching module 240 will now be discussed withreference to FIG. 6.

In step 600, the module 240 receives an alarm from the data analysismodule 236.

In decision diamond 604, the module 240 determines whether or not tochange a selected train's scheduling or operating parameters (e.g.,speed, acceleration, and routing) and/or scheduling or operatingparameters for multiple selected trains. If not, the module 240 returnsto and repeats step 600. If so, the module 240, in step 608, determinesthe change desired, and, in step 612, generates and sends an appropriateinstruction/command to the affected trains or other automated components(e.g., track switches to redirect trains onto a different route, etc.).

Example

In one embodiment, ambient and surface temperatures are collected by anOBU 108 attached to a location module 116, particularly a GPS puck, andan underbody infrared sensor 112 mounted over one or both rails 120. Anoptional monitor or display would be attached to the OBU, as would anyother interfaces to other onboard systems and sensors.

Temperatures would typically be displayed on the monitor and/orapplicable gauge, and would be periodically sent to the central serversvia available communications (cellular, radio, or other wireless datacollection/communication medium available along the tracks). Data notimmediately transmitted (due to specification or lack of applicablecommunication coverage in a given location) would be stored andtransmitted when later back in an area where coverage and connectivitypermit.

When temperatures reach specified ranges, additional alerts andassociated data would be displayed for the onboard engineers and be sentto the central server(s) as with the periodic information noted above.

The periodic information, along with any special alerts would beprocessed in conjunction with applicable weather, historic and otherinformation to generate current and anticipated temperatures alongvarious routes. Where temperatures are anticipated to be outsidespecified thresholds, the alerts and recommendations could betransferred electronically to applicable trains scheduled over suchroute(s) and map based displays could be provided showing projectedproblematic routes (with or without more granular detail regardingparticular stretches within the route). Detailed data feeds could be setup to also relay such information to other systems. Recommendedalternate routes based on other weather, speed, volumes and otherfactors could be generated. If/then functionality could be included asnoted above.

If, in the above example, a mile long train of coal traveling south fromthe Powder River Basin mines in Wyoming begins running into hightemperatures in Colorado in mid-morning, data being collected from thattrain would be both monitored by the OBU and transmitted to the centralservers (communications permitting). If thresholds in the OBU aresurpassed, the OBU itself could generate a warning. Assuming though forpurposes of the example, the temperatures are high but not at or inexcess of a threshold, the temperatures would nevertheless be analyzedat the central servers along with information from other trains ahead onthe track, and the applicable weather and historic information,profiles, etc. Information from other trains will provide last reportedinformation ahead, along with the rate of temperature increase. Theweather information will provide applicable information as to whetherand to what extent the rest of the line will be in the sun (maximumthermal heating) or whether and to what extent there will be shade orafternoon rain to cool the tracks and/or at least maintain satisfactorytemperatures. Historic information from prior days and/or years, to theextent available, or over time compiled, can be used to help refine thealgorithms, profiles and track characteristics. With trains on sometracks spaced relatively soon after each other, it will be possible togenerate profiles, monitor entire stretches of track, and forecast railtemperatures more accurately and with more lead time than ever before orever possible with limited, fixed location equipment.

As will be appreciated, OBUs and rail-side units could have fullprocessing capabilities and functionality of an SMD as described in theabove-referenced applications, but they could also be simplerdatalogging/modem units, or a combination thereof.

A number of variations and modifications of the invention can be used.It would be possible to provide for some features of the inventionwithout providing others.

For example in one alternative embodiment, the present invention isapplied to a monorail transport system.

In another alternative embodiment, the invention is applied tosub-surface rail applications, such as a subway or mine haulage system.

The exemplary systems and methods of this invention have been describedin relation to information management. However, to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the present invention, the description omits a number of knownstructures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as alimitation of the scope of the claimed invention. Specific details areset forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Itshould however be appreciated that the present invention may bepracticed in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forthherein.

Furthermore, while the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein showvarious components of the system colocated, certain components of thesystem can be located remotely, at distant portions of a distributednetwork, such as a LAN, cable network, and/or the Internet, or within adedicated system. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the components ofthe system can be combined in to one or more devices, such as aninformation management system, or collocated on a particular node of adistributed network, such as an analog and/or digital communicationsnetwork, a packet-switch network, a circuit-switched network or a cablenetwork.

It will be appreciated from the preceding description, and for reasonsof computational efficiency, that the components of the system can bearranged at any location within a distributed network of componentswithout affecting the operation of the system. For example, the variouscomponents can be located in one or more of the information managementsystem and information delivery system. Similarly, one or morefunctional portions of the system could be distributed between acommunications device(s), such as a PDA, and an associated computingdevice.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connectingthe elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof,or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable ofsupplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements.These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may becapable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media usedas links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electricalsignals, including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, and maytake the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated duringradio-wave and infra-red data communications.

Also, while the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated inrelation to a particular sequence of events, it should be appreciatedthat changes, additions, and omissions to this sequence can occurwithout materially affecting the operation of the invention.

In yet another embodiment, the systems and methods of this invention canbe implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, aprogrammed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integratedcircuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digitalsignal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such asdiscrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array suchas PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means,or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementingthe methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the variousaspects of this invention. Exemplary hardware that can be used for thepresent invention includes computers, handheld devices, telephones(e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, andothers), and other hardware known in the art. Some of these devicesinclude processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors), memory,nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices. Furthermore,alternative software implementations including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readilyimplemented in conjunction with software using object or object-orientedsoftware development environments that provide portable source code thatcan be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms.Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially orfully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whethersoftware or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance withthis invention is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirementsof the system, the particular function, and the particular software orhardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems beingutilized.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partiallyimplemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executedon programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of acontroller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, orthe like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this inventioncan be implemented as a program embedded on personal computer such as anapplet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server orcomputer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurementsystem, system component, or the like. The system can also beimplemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into asoftware and/or hardware system.

Although the present invention describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the invention is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned hereinare in existence and are considered to be included in the presentinvention. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein andother similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein areperiodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents included in thepresent invention.

The present invention, in various embodiments, configurations, oraspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/orapparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, includingvarious embodiments, configurations, aspects, subcombinations, andsubsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to makeand use the present invention after understanding the presentdisclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments,configurations, and aspects, includes providing devices and processes inthe absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in variousembodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absenceof such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes,e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost ofimplementation.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of theinvention are grouped together in one or more embodiments,configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspectsof the invention may be combined in alternate embodiments,configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This methodof disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention thatthe claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recitedin each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventiveaspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosedembodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims arehereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

Moreover, though the description of the invention has includeddescription of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects andcertain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations,and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may bewithin the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understandingthe present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which includealternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extentpermitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

1. A system, comprising: a server operable to: (a) receive over anetwork, from a plurality of consists, each consist comprising at leastone rail vehicle, a plurality of sets of collected information, each ofthe sets of collected information comprising a consist physical locationand weather conditions and rail temperatures in an area of therespective consist, wherein said weather conditions and railtemperatures are determined by at least one sensor mounted on theconsist; (b) wherein the server is operable to process a predictive railtemperature algorithm for predicting a rail temperature and/or a trendin rail temperature for a selected section of track; (c) wherein thesets of collected information are used as part of the predictive railtemperature algorithm; (d) wherein weather forecast information isprovided to the server and, said weather forecast information is used aspart of the predictive rail temperature algorithm; (e) wherein theserver, using historical data collected by a plurality of rail vehicleswhile traveling over the selected section of track at different timesand in different ambient conditions, develops a track profile, the trackprofile comprising features surrounding selected sections of track thatimpact a rail temperature of the track, and said track profile is usedas part of the predictive rail temperature algorithm; (f) whereintraffic volume data for the selected section of track is provided to theserver and said traffic volume data is used as part of the predictiverail temperature algorithm; and (g) wherein the predictive railtemperature algorithm factors the information provided to it andprovides, by local and/or remote access, a predicted rail temperatureand/or trend in rail temperature for the selected section of track andprovides an instruction to a user.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theuser is at least one of an operator of the corresponding consist anddispatcher or other representative of a railroad entity.
 3. The systemof claim 1 wherein the instruction comprises one or more of a speedrestriction, a consist route, a current of traffic, a traffic mode, aconsist schedule, a timetable, a number of trains per hour, a consistlength restriction, a consist type restriction and a consist weightrestriction.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one railvehicle is equipped with at least one sensor selected from the groupconsisting essentially of: a location sensor configured to locate the atleast one rail vehicle by satellite communications; a thermometerconfigured to measure ambient temperature; a barometer; an anemometer; avideo imaging device; a light measuring device; a hygrometer; aphotodetector; a rain gauge; a pyranometer; a wind vane; andcombinations thereof.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality ofsensors are positioned at different points along the consist, andwherein a first sensor is positioned near a head of the consist, andwherein a second sensor is positioned near a rear of the consist.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein a processor processes the sensed railtemperature and generates an alarm when at least one of a current railtemperature and an elevated rail temperature caused by passage of the atleast one rail vehicle is unacceptable.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the server determines, based on an actual or predicted railtemperature, a restricted speed for at least one of the at least onerail vehicle and a selected section of track.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the server determines, based on an actual and/or predicted railtemperature an alternate route over a main line for the at least onerail vehicle.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server determines aroute over a main line based on an actual and/or predicted railtemperature and a plurality of a geographical location of a selectedconsist, a length of the selected consist, a type of the selectedconsist, a weight of the selected consist, and speed of the selectedconsist.
 10. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least oneprocessor operable to send, over a wireless network, from an InternetProtocol (“IP”) address and to the server, the plurality of sets ofcollected information, and wherein said sets of collected informationare further comprised of a unique identifier different from the IPaddress.
 11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processoroperable to receive from the server a map and to display the map to theuser.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the map is generated from thesets of collected information and wherein the map depicts consistphysical locations of each of a plurality of consists, including thecorresponding consist, and at least one of weather and rail conditionsin an area of each consist.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mapprovides a trace route for each of the plurality of consists.
 14. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the map comprises an icon for each of theplurality of consists, a respective map location of each icon depictinga physical location of a respective consist, and wherein each icon isassociated with text information describing a vehicle state of therespective consist.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the vehiclestate of the respective consist comprises at least one of consistidentifier, direction of consist travel, consist speed, status of a GPSsignal from the consist, and timestamp of last data update for theconsist and wherein an appearance of the icon denotes a correspondingone of a plurality of different possible vehicle states of therespective consist with differing icon appearances corresponding todiffering consist states.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein theappearance is color and wherein the color indicates that the consist isone of active, inactive, and out-of-wireless range.
 17. A method,comprising: (a) receiving over a network, from a plurality of consists,each consist comprising at least one rail vehicle, and by a server, aplurality of sets of collected information, each of the sets ofcollected information comprising a consist physical location and weatherconditions and rail temperatures in an area of the respective consist,wherein said weather conditions and rail temperatures are determined byat least one sensor mounted on the consist; (b) processing, by theserver a predictive rail temperature algorithm for predicting a railtemperature and/or a trend in rail temperature for a selected section oftrack; (c) using the sets of collected information as part of thepredictive rail temperature algorithm; (d) providing weather forecastinformation to the server wherein said weather forecast information isused as part of the predictive rail temperature algorithm; (e) usinghistorical data collected by a plurality of rail vehicles whiletraveling over the selected section of track at different times and indifferent ambient conditions to develop a track profile, the trackprofile comprising features surrounding selected sections of track thatimpact a rail temperature of the track, wherein said track profile isused as part of the predictive rail temperature algorithm; (f) providingtraffic volume data for the selected section of track to the serverwherein said traffic volume data is used as part of the predictive railtemperature algorithm; and (g) wherein the predictive rail temperaturealgorithm factors the information provided to it and provides, by localand/or remote access, a predicted rail temperature and/or trend in railtemperature for the selected section of track and provides aninstruction to a user.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the user isat least one of an operator of the corresponding consist and dispatcheror other representative of a railroad entity.
 19. The system of claim 17wherein the instruction comprises one or more of a speed restriction, aconsist route, a current of traffic, a traffic mode, a consist schedule,a timetable, a number of trains per hour, a consist length restriction,a consist type restriction and a consist weight restriction.
 20. Themethod of claim 17 wherein the at least one rail vehicle is equippedwith at least one sensor selected from the group consisting essentiallyof: a location sensor configured to locate the at least one rail vehicleby satellite communications; a thermometer configured to measure ambienttemperature; a barometer; an anemometer; a video imaging device; a lightmeasuring device; a hygrometer; a photodetector; a rain gauge; apyranometer; a wind vane; and combinations thereof.
 21. The method ofclaim 17 wherein a plurality of sensors are positioned at differentpoints along the consist, and wherein a first sensor is positioned neara head of the consist, and wherein a second sensor is positioned near arear of the consist.
 22. The method of claim 17 wherein a processorprocesses the sensed rail temperature and generates an alarm when atleast one of a current rail temperature and an elevated rail temperaturecaused by passage of the at least one rail vehicle is unacceptable. 23.The method of claim 17, wherein the server determines, based on anactual or predicted rail temperature, a restricted speed for at leastone of the at least one rail vehicle and a selected section of track.24. The method of claim 17, wherein the server determines, based on anactual and/or predicted rail temperature an alternate route over a mainline for the at least one rail vehicle.
 25. The method of claim 17,wherein the server determines a route over a main line based on anactual and/or predicted rail temperature and a plurality of ageographical location of a selected consist, a length of the selectedconsist, a type of the selected consist, a weight of the selectedconsist, and speed of the selected consist.
 26. The method of claim 17further comprising sending, over a wireless network, from an InternetProtocol (“IP”) address and to a server, the sets of collectedinformation, the sets of collected information further comprising aunique identifier different from the IP address.
 27. The method of claim26 further comprising: (a) determining, by at least one processor, thatat least one of a received signal strength from the wireless network anda Quality of Service (“QoS”) parameter is not acceptable; (b) buffering,by the at least one processor, the received information when the atleast one of a received signal strength from a wireless network and aQoS parameter is not acceptable; (c) when the at least one of a receivedsignal strength from a wireless network and a QoS parameter isacceptable, sending, by the at least one processor, from the InternetProtocol (“IP”) address of the of the at least one processor, and overthe wireless network, the sets of collected information to an electronicaddress associated with the server.
 28. The method of claim 27, whereinthe determining step comprises the sub-operations: (A1) forwarding, bythe at least one processor, a query to an IP address of the server andapplying the following rules: (A2) when a response is received from theserver, determining that the at least one of a received signal strengthfrom a wireless network and a QoS parameter is acceptable; and (A3) whenno response is received from the server, determining that the at leastone of a received signal strength from a wireless network and a QoSparameter is not acceptable.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the atleast one processor comprises a connection manager to establish wirelessconnections and to disconnect the connection when at least one networkstate parameter is not acceptable.
 30. The method of claim 29, whereinwhen the at least one of a received signal strength from a wirelessnetwork and a QoS parameter is not acceptable further comprising thesub-operation: (A4) activating the connection manager to reset logic andrelated parameters required for access to the wireless network to effectreestablishment of the connection with the server.
 31. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the collected information is based on informationregarding rail vehicle state, input and/or sensed, on a manual and/orautomated basis, from at least one rail vehicle.
 32. The method of claim17 further comprising a processor operable to receive from the server amap and to display the map to the user.
 33. The method of claim 32,wherein the map is generated from the sets of collected information andwherein the map depicts consist physical locations of each of aplurality of consists, including the corresponding consist, and at leastone of weather and rail conditions in an area of each consist.
 34. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the map comprises an icon for each of theplurality of consists, a respective map location of each icon depictinga physical location of a respective consist, and wherein each icon isassociated with text information describing a vehicle state of therespective consist.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the vehiclestate of the respective consist comprises at least one of consistidentifier, direction of consist travel, consist speed, status of a GPSsignal from the consist, and timestamp of last data update for theconsist and wherein an appearance of the icon denotes a correspondingone of a plurality of different possible vehicle states of therespective consist with differing icon appearances corresponding todiffering consist states.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein theappearance is color and wherein the color indicates that the consist isone of active, inactive, and out-of-wireless range.
 37. The method ofclaim 32, wherein the map provides a trace route for each of theplurality of consists.